Buckle



Nov. 4. 1924. l 1,514,227

G. E. PRENTICE BUCKLE Filed March 10', 1923 I N VEN TOR.

4mm: 5. PFf/VT/Cf ATTORNEYS,

Patented Nov. l, 19324.. i i H i V GEORGE E. PRENTICE, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNZTATI'TIQII'X, ASSIGNUR TO TEEO COMEFANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK,

BUCKLE.

Application filed March 10, serial No; 624,129. 7 1

To all whom it may concern: In the accompanying drawing:

Be it known that I, Gnonen E. PRENTICE, Fig. 1 is an elevation of an adjustaltile a citizen of the United States, residing at garter strap which has included therein a New Britain, in the county of Hartford buckle constructed inaccordance with the and State of Connecticut, have invented cerinvention, 60 tain new and useful Improvements in Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through Buckles, of which the following is a full, a portion of the same including the buckle, clear, and exact description. taken substantially along the line 2-2 of My invention relates to a buckle for adbig. 1,

justably connecting together two bands or Fig. 3 is a perspective of the sliding bar 65 a band to a garment, and particularly to a or locking element, I v buckle having a sliding bar in a frame with Fig. 4; is a transverse section through the the free end of the adjustable band passed buckle taken substantially along the line into the frame at the further side of the bar, 44 of Fig. 1, and

then over the bar, and then through the Fig. 5 is plan of the initial'stamping 70 frame on the nearer side of the bar, so that from which the sliding bar or looking eleany pull on the adjustable band will shift ment is formed. the bar automatically in a direction to clamp In the illustrated embodiment of the :in the free end of the band between it and the vention, the buckle frame 1, with a large frame. In prior buckles of this type, the aperture 2 therein, may be stamped from 75 bars have usually been made by stamping suitable sheet material, or formed in any the same from sheet metal, and the edges other suitable manner. A blank 3 of subof these bars over which the bands pass were stantially the shape shown in Fig. 5 with frequently rough and sharp. The result aligned notches in the end edges, is stamped 2 has been that the bands were soon worn and from I suitable sheet metal. This stamping frayed. If any slack occurred at times in 3 is folded upon itself along parallel lines the adjustable band, the'locking bar would into a tubular form that substantially frequently slide on the frame sufiiciently rectangular cross-section. One edgepor to loosen the locked end of the band and retion t of the stamping, after forming one sult in an undesired loosening of the band side edge "of the tubular bar, is bent outor connection, The adjustable band exerts wardly at substantially right angles thereto a. turning torque upon the bar or sliding so as toforn'l a flange 5 which extends parallocking element, which torque tends to danflel to the two faces of the bar and in slight-- ail-Te or breal': the sliding connection between ly Spaced relation to one of the faces there the bar or elementand the frame. of. This spacing is preferably slightly less An object of the invention is to provide than the thickness of the bamlto be used an improved buckle which may be made enin the buckle. i s tirely by stamping the parts thereof from The folding of the stamping which prefsheet metal; and then, if necessary, bending erably .is along the side edges of the notches,

40 the same into the desired shape; with which will. produce a tubular locking bar or ele- 95 there will be no possibility of damage to ment in which the notches will form'slits the bands; in which damage to the buckle in theends thereof. In effect, this is the frame or locking bar due to turning torques equivalent of having the opposite face of produced on the bar by the pull on the adthe sliding bar or element extended so as justable band will be avoided; with which to provide a pair of spaced tongues at each accidental loosening or effectivelengthenend. The sliding bar'or locking element inp of the adjustable band will be largely or is disposed across the aperture 2 of the entirely prevented; and which is thin, light frame 1 with the spaced tongues-6 at each in weight, simple, strong and durable in end overlying oppositefaces of the frame as construction, attractive in appearance and along the aperture, so as to guide the bar inexpensive. Other objects and advantages for sliding movement on the frame across will be apparent from the following descrlpthe aperture, and at the same time retain the tion of anembodiment of the invention and bar against removal from the frame. Vvhen the novel features will be particularly pointthe bar is at one .limit of its sliding moveed out hereinafter in claims, ment the flange 5 will overlie a portion of the frame ale-rig the aperture 2, in slightly as at 8, so as to form a permanent connection between the same and the buckle. An adjustable strap or band 9 which, by way of illustration, may carry a suitable garter fastening device 10 at one end thereof, is passed through the aperture in the frame between the sliding bar and the strap 7, then around the sliding bar and back through the aperture in the buckle frame upon the other or nearer side of-the bar. When a pull is exerted upon the strap 8 it will be, transmitted to the sliding bar in such a manner as to pull the bar in the direction of pull upon the strap, and clamp the free end of the strap 9 between the sliding bar and the buckle. frame.

The flange 5 will wedge the free or clamped end of the adjustable band between it and the face of the buckle frame, so that if any slack occurs in the adjustable hand, there will be sufficient friction between the bar, the band, and the buckle frame to pre vent accidental movement of the sliding bar in a direction to release the free end of the adjustable band. The flange 5, by its engagement with the face of the buckle frame, through the interposed free end of the adjustable band, will resist any rotary movement of the sliding bar which would tend to twist the tongues 6 in a manner to release the bar from the frame or otherwise damage it.. If one desires to lengthen or shorten the adjustable band it is merely necessary first to slacken it so that the sliding bar may be shifted to release the free end thereof, after which the band may be ad justed to the desired length. Thereafter, when. a pull is exerted upon the adjustable band or strap, it will be transmitted to the sliding bar and shift the latter in a direction to clamp the free end of the band or strap to the buckle frame.

It will be observed that the buckle frame and sliding bar may both be produced entirely by metal die stamping and bending operations, which enables their production in quantities at an exceptionally low cost.

The buckle also will not readily release or loosen the strap when slack occurs in the adjust-able band, and since the turning torque is taken from the guiding flanges of the sliding bar, the buckle will be exception ally durable; The buckle frame may be very short, and since it may be formed of sheet metal, it will be thin, inconspicuous and light in weight. The parts of the buckle esired style of finish.

It will be obvious that various changes in the details, shapes and arrangement of parts herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A buckle comprising an apertured frame, and a locking bar of sheet metal which has been bent upon itself into tubular form, extending across the aperture between opposite sides of the frame, both ends of the bar having longitudinal extensions overlying both faces of said opposite sides of the frame so as to guide the bar for sliding movement on the frame across the aperture and retain it against removal from the frame.

2. A buckle comprising an apertured frame, a sheet metal tubular locking bar extending across the aperture between opposite sides of the frame, both ends of the bar having longitudinal extensions overlying both faces of said opposite sides of the frame so as to guide the bar for sliding movement on the frame across the aperture and retain it against removal from the frame, thebar having a flange along one edge which, when the bar is at one limit of its movement, slightly overlies one face of the frame.

3. A buckle comprising an apertured frame, and a strip of sheet metal bent upon itself into tubular form and disposed endwise across the aperture between opposite sides of the frame, the ends of the strip having tongues which cooperate with the frame sides to retain the strip on the frame and allow it to slide across the aperture, one edge portion of the strip after forming one side edge of the sliding form extending toward the adjacent edge of the frame in a plane spaced to the rear of the rear face of the frame.

4-. A buckle comprising an apertured frame, and a tubular bar carried by the frame across the aperture thereof for sliding movement across the aperture laterally of itself, said bar having a flange along an edge which extends toward the adjacent edge of the aperture in a plane spaced from a face of the frame and eXteriorly of the plane of the aperture.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

GEORGE E. PRENTICE.

being of metal may be plated or given any 

